About the role
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Project Manager to join the Culture, Tourism and Heritage service at North Northamptonshire Council. Reporting to the Head of Service for Culture, Tourism and Heritage, you will play a key role in developing and delivering projects that enhance the area’s cultural assets, heritage sites and visitor economy.
In this role, you will be responsible for developing projects from initial concept through to delivery, including identifying opportunities, securing external funding and overseeing implementation. You will lead projects across a varied portfolio of cultural venues, heritage assets and tourism initiatives, ensuring they are well planned, effectively governed and delivered on time and within budget.
You will work closely with internal teams, community organisations, heritage partners and external stakeholders to shape project proposals, prepare funding applications and coordinate delivery. This includes managing project plans, monitoring risks and budgets, and reporting progress and outcomes to senior officers and governance boards.
This is an exciting opportunity for a project professional who enjoys turning ideas into deliverable projects and working collaboratively to create lasting cultural, heritage and tourism benefits for communities across North Northamptonshire.
What will you be doing?
1. Developing and delivering projects across culture, tourism and heritage services, from initial concept and funding through to implementation and completion
2. Identifying opportunities for investment and preparing funding bids and business cases to support cultural, tourism and heritage initiatives
3. Managing the full project lifecycle including project planning, governance, budgets, risks, procurement and delivery milestones
4. Leading and coordinating project teams, contractors and delivery partners to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope and within budget
5. Working collaboratively with internal teams, community organisations, cultural and heritage partners, leisure operators and external stakeholders
6. Supporting the development of strategic initiatives that strengthen North Northamptonshire’s cultural offer and visitor economy
7. Developing and maintaining strong relationships with funding bodies, cultural partners and community organisations
8. Preparing reports, briefings and updates on project progress, risks and outcomes for the Head of Service for Culture, Tourism and Heritage, senior officers and governance boards
9. Supporting procurement processes and contract management in line with council procedures
10. Monitoring and evaluating project outcomes to ensure benefits are realised and projects deliver value for communities
11. Contributing to service transformation and continuous improvement across culture, tourism and heritage services
12. Ensuring effective communication and engagement with communities, partners and stakeholders throughout project development and delivery
13. Managing multiple projects simultaneously while prioritising work to meet deadlines and strategic objectives
14. Ensuring projects align with wider council priorities including community wellbeing, placemaking and economic development
15. Supporting the development of new ideas and innovative approaches that enhance cultural participation, heritage engagement and tourism opportunities across North Northamptonshire
About you
We are looking for a proactive and organised project professional who is passionate about culture, tourism and heritage and motivated by the opportunity to deliver projects that make a real difference to communities.
You will have experience developing and delivering projects from initial concept and funding through to delivery, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work collaboratively with a wide range of partners and stakeholders.
You will bring strong project management skills, excellent communication and the ability to build effective relationships across organisations and communities.
You will also have:
16. Experience delivering projects within culture, tourism, heritage, leisure or community services, or within a related environment
17. The ability to develop project proposals and support or lead funding applications
18. Strong stakeholder engagement skills and experience working with partners, community organisations and contractors
19. The ability to manage budgets, risks and governance requirements across multiple projects
20. Excellent organisational skills with the ability to plan, prioritise and deliver work to agreed deadlines
21. Strong communication and presentation skills, with confidence reporting to senior officers and stakeholders
22. A collaborative and solution-focused approach, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team
A relevant degree or equivalent experience is essential, and a project management qualification such as PRINCE2, Agile, MSP or LEAN would be advantageous. You will also need the flexibility to travel across North Northamptonshire to visit sites, partners and project locations as required
Our benefits
Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.
You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!
Why choose us?
We offer a vibrant working environment with:
23. a competitive salary
24. a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
25. lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
26. generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
27. hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.
We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.
About us
Our Values and Behaviours
Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:
Customer-focused
Respectful
Efficient
Supportive
Trustworthy
Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.
Disability Confident Employer
We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.
Our Employment and Disability Service provides bespoke support to individuals facing barriers to employment, helping them work towards their goals to start, stay and succeed in employment. For further information please click here The Employment and Disability Service (EADS) | North Northamptonshire Council
Armed Forces Community
The council obtained the Gold status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).
Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)